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Gays Mills, Wisconsin

FYI:

Last fall I checked with a very well respected entity that specializes in soil ecology. I asked if Round-up would hurt the bacteria and/or mycorrhizae fungi in the soil. I was told it shouldn't hurt the VAM but I should get a good aerobic tea and compost on it as soon as I could to reestablish the microbial life.

I just ran across the following article:
http://jeq.scijournals.org/cgi/content/full/31/3/730
that indicates that Round-up helps increase soil biomass.

I know it never hurts to use a good aerobic tea but I am curious if I missed something. I had found this article while searching for any effects Round-up may have on soil PH, since my surface PH is a little high on the areas I used Round-up on last fall.

I mighta just learnt something.

Any experts out there on Round-up?
JB

3/16/2010 10:56:21 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

Roundup is quickly inactivated when it hits the soil and there is no residual activity. Many Organic fanatics claim its hurts the soil biology but the research I have read leads to the opposite conclusions as indicated in the article, that it increases soil organisms. This is because it is broken down in the soil by microbes and it actually acts as food for them. I use a lot of Roundup in my patch!

3/17/2010 7:03:10 AM

I have on occasion and without intent used Roundup as a food source for selected pumpkin plants, a purpose for which it is ill-suited (sorry, Rod).

If you want proof beyond the article you’ve cited, soil test labs can perform microbe counts on your soil as part of the analysis. It might be interesting to run several variables (application of Roundup, concentration of application, measurable impact of tea, etc.) against microbe count to see the effects. Surely there is a grad student out there in pumpkin land looking for a nice little pumpkin related project for their thesis that could snatch this up.

The only issues I've ever had with Roundup are finding a suitable day to spray it and the inevitable drift that occurs when I don't find a suitable day.

3/17/2010 11:10:11 AM

Seattle, WA

Scientist finding many negative impacts of Roundup Ready GM crops. Worth reading!

http://www.non-gmoreport.com/articles/jan10/scientists_find_negative_impacts_of_GM_crops.php

3/17/2010 12:49:50 PM

Gays Mills, Wisconsin

Thanks for the info everyone. I believe the responses have been helpful.

I am under the impression that Roundup has the potential to damage certain strains of microbial life to a degree that can be of a concern, and it has the potential to allow unwanted strains to flourish. It doesn't generally wipe out the soil ecology and the glycophosphate can actually enhance some microbial growth.
The continual/repetitive use of Roundup is of most concern

I'm feeling okay about using the Roundup because it was the first time ever in this patch site that had a very good soil ecology and I took steps to reestablish "good biological life" shortly after using.

Hopefully this thread is informative for growers who have concerns re: Roundup use.

Thanks again. John

3/17/2010 9:54:33 PM

Seattle, WA

John,

If you use the Roundup, follow it with an aerated compost tea application a few days later as a means of re-inoculating the beneficial microbes that may have been killed off by the Roundup.

3/18/2010 4:22:25 PM